Educated: A MemoirEducated: A Memoir
Score Modern
What it's about
Tara Westover grew up on a mountain in Idaho with survivalist parents who didn't believe in schools, doctors or the government. She never had a birth certificate, spent her childhood working in her father's dangerous scrapyard and preparing for the end of the world, and was hurt again and again by an older brother no one would stop. At seventeen, having taught herself enough to pass the ACT, she left for college, and her education took her all the way to a PhD from Cambridge.
Why it's worth reading
It's an astonishing true story, but what makes it great is Tara's honesty about what it cost her: every step toward an education was a step away from the family she loved. It asks what we owe our families, and what we owe ourselves.
You'll love it if you liked
The Glass Castle
I'm Glad My Mom Died
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African ChildhoodGood to know
There is family violence and serious injury described in detail. It reads like a novel, and most people finish it in a few days.
By the numbers
- Readers98 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics21 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller94 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz48 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #2 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #6 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #14 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Moving
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Quick answers
Is Educated: A Memoir worth reading?
Yes. It's an astonishing true story, but what makes it great is Tara's honesty about what it cost her: every step toward an education was a step away from the family she loved. It ranks #14 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 93.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Educated: A Memoir about?
Tara Westover grew up on a mountain in Idaho with survivalist parents who didn't believe in schools, doctors or the government. She never had a birth certificate, spent her childhood working in her father's dangerous scrapyard and preparing for the end of the world, and was hurt again and again by an older brother no one would stop. At seventeen, having taught herself enough to pass the ACT, she left for college, and her education took her all the way to a PhD from Cambridge.
How long does it take to read Educated: A Memoir?
About 9 hours (352 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Educated: A Memoir?
If you liked it, try The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy or Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah.